Can filling machine



J. LEONARD CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed July 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 By Attorney Filed July 9, 1951 @ccitm 1935.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 33 w J3 22 Q 0 {9 j 22 Lu HJ 1:: I lmx I l 2 I v J Jazrwa Lemur/d B N "M Attorney 6%. 8, 1935. J. LEONARD CAN FILLING MACHINE '5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 9, 1931 /9Z I Q Inventor James Lemur/a5 j Attorney \\\\\\N\\\\\\\\\\ N\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \N @CL 8,, 1935. J, LEONARD 2,016378 CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed July 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 a a2 Z 31 z; 70 Q Q ,2; Z5

Attorney Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to can filling machines and the filling heads therefor that are used for filling semi-solids such as tomato sauce, etc., for saucing spaghetti, beans, etc., and the object or" this invention is to provide a filling head with which the cans can be filled without loss of material after each filling operation.

Another object of the invention to provide a filling head that will make an air and liquid tight joint with the rim of the can.

Another object is to provide a filling head having a solid centre with an air line passing up through said solid centre above the level of the liquid in the tank, together with the valve rod passing up through the air line and means for mechanically operating the air valve from the upper end of valve rod.

Another object is to provide a filling head having downwar ly open valve seats in the bottom of the filling head with air and liquid valves placed below such valve seats and operated by valve rods extending up through and above the liquid tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filling head with an adjustment thereon that will regulate the height to which the liquid will be filled into the can.

Another object is to provide a filling head having an air line having a mechanically operated valve in the lower end thereof adapted to close the line, said air line being adapted to receive and hold any liquid overflow in the line while the can is being removed, and is replaced by another can,

i said valve being then capable of being opened to return the excess liquid to the can.

This and other objects of the invention will be fully illustrated in the drawings described in the specification and pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic'view of the machine looking at it from above using my improved filling heads.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of that part of the machine by which the cans are fed to the turret showing the controls for operating the valves and the filling heads.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the control that opens the liquid valve.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the can and the support therefor and the filling head for the can.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the part shown in Fig. 4 together with a portion of the frame of the -machine and the tripping mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the support for the can and the lifting device therefor.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section to the filling head the section being taken on the line lx-Ia: of Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the filling head. 5

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the filling head with a portion partly broken away at the top.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the tube for the air line and the valve rod operating therein.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the valve rod for the liquid valve.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the control mechanism for the air vent partly in section.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the upright connections between the right hand end of the horizontal arm it, and the horizontal arm 15 through which the air valve is opened in each of the filling heads.

Fig. l l is a vertical section on the line l4.'cl la: of Fig. 5, the arm 53, being omitted.

Fig. 15 is a vertical section on the line l5a:l5a: of Fig. 5.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of the spider shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 17 is a detailed view showing the relation between the crank 46, and the cranks 22.

Fig. 18 is a bottom plan View of the rubber packing shown in the filling head, shown in Fig. '7.

Fig. 19 is a vertical section through the web and annular rim showing the key that locks them together.

In the. drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawings reference numeral l indicates a pan inside of whichrotates a turret carrying a series of platforms 2, each of which is adapted to support a cam 3, and raise it into contact with the filling head 4.

The cans are fed to the platforms bya belt 5 which feeds them to a curved stationary guide 6, one end of which extends over the belt. Mounted on a shaft 7, to rotate substantially concentric with the curved guide 5, is a spider or a feeding wheel 8, having seven teeth thereon, each of which is adapted to engage a can in turn and push it forward along the curved guide 6, and land it on one of the supporting tables 2, which tables are carried bythe turret as the turret and tables move forward.

The spider 8 is composed of two plates spaced 50 an inch or two apart on the shaft 7, that carries them. Between the plates extends. a. horizontal arm IE! pivoted at H. The outer end l2 of the arm is connected to a lever I3 that extends upwardly. This lever I3 is pivoted at M and at 55 the oncoming can. As the turret rotates each its upper end engages with one end of a horizontal arm is, pivoted at it. The arm 15 is normally held in the position shown in Figure 2 by the spring HiA, one end of which is attached to the arm 15 and the other end is attached to the bracket B carried on the pin l5C which is set in the table of the machine. As the can pushes the forward end of thearrn it outwardly away from the center of the turret, the outer end of the arm swings toward the turret and carries with it the lower end of the upright lever l3 moving the upper end of the lever l3 outward. This in turn moves outwardly the end It of the arm it which is pivoted at [8 and swings the other end 2| inwardly into the path of the crank 22 carried on the shaft 23. 7

On the inner end of the shaft 23 is carried the crank 2%, with the cam 25 thereon, which engages with the rod 25 that is lifted thereby and rocks the walking beam 27 and pushes down the valve rod 28 that carries the air valve 29 on the lower end thereof. The spring 36 on the rod 26 normally holds the air valve closed. On the shaft 23 is provided a ratchet wheel Sf that is engaged by a pawl 32 when the shaft is rotated and serves to hold the rod 28 up and the valve rod 28 down with air valve as open. This mechanism operates to open the air valve 25:) after the can is in position under the filling head and before the can is lifted into engagement with the filling head. This permits any liquid that has passed up into the air line to drain into the can before the can is lifted into contact with the filling head and before the liquid valve is opened. The pawls 32 and 33 are in line with each other and both are tripped by the one overhanging arm 59. When the pawls 32 and 33 trip themselves on the overhanging arm Ell the shafts 23 and E513 with the ratchet wheels return to their normal position and the pawls then engagewith the ratchet wheels in their original position. The pawls controlling the air valves trip first so that the'air valve closes slightly before the liquid valve closes for each filling head and can. As the turret and supports move forward the cans are carried against the curved guide carried on the support 35, by which guide the cans are pushed sideways against the flange 36, carried on the inner edge of each of the supports. As the turret revolves each can is brought to bear in turn against an arm 3?, which is pivotally mounted upon a shaft 33, supported on a bracket 39, carried on the support 35. 7

Connected on the arm 31 is a link 40, which in turn is connected to a crank 41, which is adapted to rock a shaft 62 on which a gear 53 is keyed. This gear in turn meshes with a pinion id, carried on a shaft is, which in turn carries a crank .46 keyed thereon, so that by the rocking of the arm tithe crank id is rocked by the mechanism described. The shaft G5 is mounted to oscillate in the plates ll and 58, which plates are supported and spaced apart by the supports 49 and 50A. 7

On the shaft 45 is provided a crank 5!, which is keyed thereto and oscillates therewith. An arm 51 is keyed on the stationary support 49. The crank 5! is connected to the stationary arm 5? by the helical spring 58.

The spring 58 serves to hold the parts normally in the position shown at the lower left hand corner of Fig. 2 with the arm 3? in the road of can in turn pushes the arm 3'! to the left and this in turn rocks the shaft 45 and swings the the valve rod 55.

is rotated. The crank is keyed to the shaft 60. 5

On the inner end of this shaft is keyed the crank 62, which has a cam surface on the top thereof. As the shaft and the two cranks swing, the crank 62 with its cam makes contact with the rod 63 and lifts it. This rod at the top is connected to a 10 Walking beam 64 to the other end of which is connected the valve rod 65 on the lower end of which is the liquid valve fit, which normally closes the liquid port in the filling head. As the rod t3 lifts, the valve rod 65 is pushed down and 15 the valve 69 is pushed down from its seat which opens the valve and allows the sauce to drain from the tank into the can.

A pawl 33 is provided which engages with a ratchet E3 on the shaft 86 and holds the valve 20 68 off its seat. The pawl is held in engagement with the ratchet'by the spring). As the turret revolves, the pawl 33 engages with the overa hanging arm 58 that is stationary on the front of the machine and is depressed thereby. This 25 releases the pawl from engagement with the ratchet $8 and the spring 69 surrounding the rod 63 operates to push the rod 63 down lifting the valve rod and shutting off the fiow of liquid into the can. The overhanging arm is 30 placed on the frame of the machine over 200 from the swinging arm 31, by which the liquid valve is opened and the can is being filled while it rotates with the turret and travels over half way round the machine. 7 35 The filling head which constitutes part of my invention is shown in vertical section in Fig. 7, and in bottom plan View in Fig. 8, and in side elevation in Fig. 9. A considerable number of filling heads, that is, 14 or more, is used in the 40 turret in each filling machine. These filling heads are directly connected to the tank in the machine and are located under the tank and the liquid or semi-liquid contents of the tank drain through the filling heads into the cans by 45 gravity.

In th: drawings reference numeral 15 indicates the side of the tank and reference numeral. it indicates the bottom of the tank.

As shown in Fig. '7 the tank has suitable per- 50 forations in the bottom thereof indicated by the reference numeral T1. In this opening fits the hub 18, of the filling head. Below the hub is provided a fiangeor disk 19, which bears against the under side of the bottom of the tank and is 5 fastened thereto by bolts 80.

This hub has two openings therein 8| and 82.

The opening 8i terminates substantially flush the opening 82 extends up thetube 83 which constitutes the air line of the filling head. This tube 83 extends above the level of the liquid in the tank. Thru the air tube 83 extends the valve rod 28 and thru the liquid tube 8i extends 65 On the bottom of the valve rod 28 is provided the air valve 29 and on the bottom of the valve rod 65 is provided the liquid valve 66 as above described.

The filling head comprises a solid centre 90,10 having a disk web 9!, surrounding it and concentric therewith. At the bottom this solid centre is threaded as indicated at 92. Surround- .ing the solid centre is a housing 93, which is shaped with an annular channel which is pro- 76 vided with a resilient rubber gasket or seal made of two parts the inner part 94 being 01' sponge rubber and the outer part 95, which is channel shaped, being made of solid live rubber. The cans sometimes have uneven edges and if the gasket were made of solid live rubber it would sometimes not give enough to close the joint between the can and the gasket. By using a thin outer layer of solid rubber, and a backing of sponge rubber I secure both firmness and sufficient give in the making of contact to close the Joint under all circumstances, so that the air and liquid cannot leak out between the rim of the can and the gasket.

The inner margin of the gasket is exposed more or less to the liquid sauce and the liquid sauce can creep out on the gasket, and to confine it and to prevent its coming to the outer margin the depending annular flange 96 is provided. which arrests the flow of the sauce outward.

The annular rim 98 extends upward from the housing 93, and surrounds the web 9 I. The housing 93 with its rubber packing has a threaded engagement with the solid centre as indicated at 92 and is adjustable up and down thereon by merely turning it. The annular rim is perforated at intervals as indicated at 99 to which perforations a wrench can be applied for the pur pose of turning it. These perforations also permit drainage of any water that may become trapped between the web 9!, and the annular casing 98 in the washing of the apparatus.

The filling line 8| through which the liquid travels from the tank to the can and the air line 82 through which the air escapes, during the filling operation, and the vacuum relief or vent I all extend thru the solid centre 9!] and in each of them is located a valve by means of which the opening through the solid centre is controlled. The filling line BI has the largest inside diameter and through this is drawn the matter that is filledinto the can which matter is semi-solid and yet is free flowing. The lower end of this filling line is enlarged and is indicated at [ill and between the filling line and the enlarged end is formed a valve seat I02. Co-operating with this valve seat is a piston valve 66, which moves in the enlarged end Iill of the filling line and is carried on the lower end of the valve stem 65.

The enlarged end ItI, of the filling line and the filling line itself is cylindrical throughout, while the piston valve 66 has three ribs I 93 thereon, as shown in Fig. 8.

The valve stem 65 extends through the filling line and up through the tank 15. The valve stem 65 carries on its upper end the fork I85 which engages with a walking beam 64, by which the valve rod 65 may be raised and lowered to open and close the valve 66, on the seat I62.

The valve rod 28 carries a fork I06 on the upper end thereof that engages with the walking beam 21 by which the valve rod may be raised and lowered to open and close the air valve 29 on the seat I67.

As the valve 66 is unseated the semi-solid material goes through the filling line from the tank past the valve 68 and into the can 3 below the filling head. The material is allowed to fiow from the tank into the can in this manner until the can is filled, and this flowing of the material continues while the valve is opened and while the turret is rotating about 260.

As the can is filled the air within the can escapes intothe air line 82 which air line is controlled by the valve 29 which is similar to the valve 66 and which is mounted upon the stem 28 by which it is raised and lowered to control the opening and closing of the air line. The valve 29 is adapted to seat itself on the seat I81. larged end m9 of the air line is cylindrical as is the upper part of the air line 82. The air valve 29 is provided with ribs I09 between which the air can escape.

These ribs are provided on the valves 29 and 66 to prevent any of the solid matter that is inthe can from backing up through the filling line or the air line and clogging up the lines. It will be understood that the cans are filled first with solid matter such as beans, spaghetti, peaches, or other similar matter before they come to this machine and the filling of the cans will then be finished on this machine by adding the sauce or syrup to the can. The ribs on the valves 29 and 66 prevent any of the solid matter in the cans from finding its way up into the valve seat or into the line above in which case it would interfere with the operation of the valve.

A vent lull is provided in the solid head which is normally closed by a cone shaped valve H6, carried on a stem ll, which valve is used for a purpose which will now be described:-

On machines of this character the can is held in place under the filling head by a small platform 2 that raises and lowers as the turret rotates. This platform raises the can into place against the filling head and holds it there during the filling operation. After the filling is completed and the valves 26 and 29 are closed this platform drops and carries the can with it away from the filling head. If, however; a partial vacuum has been established in the can the can will adhere to the filling head. This vacuum is always destroyed by pushing down on the ring I29, carried on the lever I25, pivoted at I22. This raises the stem I I1, and the valve I I5 and admits air into the can destroying the vacuum so that the can falls away from the filling head by gravity.

The ring I253 on the lever I 2| engages with a bracket 923, carried on the frame of the machine. This engagement occurs at the proper point of rotation of the turret after the filling of the can has been completed, and the platform 2 is about to be lowered.

The threaded engagement between the solid centre 90, and the annular casing 93, permits the rubber gasket to move up and down and this in turn permits accurate gauging of the height to which the liquid material is filled intothe can. As shown in Fig. 7 the annular casing 93 is at its highest point. By turning it around it can be brought down on the solid centre and the further down it is drawn on the solid centre the more it will cause the can to be filled. That is, it will cause the can to be filled closer to the top. The higher the annular casing 93 is placed on the solid centre, the more unfilled space willbe left at the top of the can when the filling operation has been ended.

As shown in Fig. 6 the platform 2 has an annular flange I25 on the bottom thereof which receives the upper end of a hollow support I26. The upper end of this support is shouldered at I21 to furnish a seat for the lower end of the fiange I25. Inside of the support I26 is a stem, I28 which makes sliding engagement with the hollow support 123. In the annular space between them is provided a compression spring I29, which engages with a shoulder I39, near the top of the support I26, and engages with the shoulder 'I3I The lower ena cam shaped track I40, which is common to ma chines of this type, and thereby the stem and the support and the platform 2 are raised to bring the can into contact with the filling head. The stem I28 slides in the support 5516 and compresses the spring I29 so that the can will be accurately and fully engaged with the rubber packing on the filling head regardless of any variations therein.

The support IN is carried in a stationary sleeve MI, by which it is surrounded and with which it makes sliding engagement. The sleeve H! extends thru a boss 32, formed in the turret I43. A set screw Md, extends thru the boss IGZ, and enga es with the sleeve Mi, and holds the sleeve 32 in place in the boss M2. In this sleeve I 'll, the stem I28 and the support I 26 are raised up by the cam Hit, and fall down by gravity when the cam permits. In this way the can is brought into contact with the filling head before it is filled and is drawn away from the filling head after it is filled.

Surrounding the flange I25, is the sleeve M6, which is fastened thereto by the screws MI, by which it is held in place, This sleeve acts as an apron and prevents any drip from getting between the stationary sleeve ME, and the support I25 that slides therein, and prevents any lubricating material that is used between the sleeve Isl and support I25, from working up on the platform 2.

For the purpose of locking the annular rim,

98 to the web 9!, I provide as follows:

The annular rim 98 is provided with notches or recesses I563, in the upper edge thereof, which notches are spaced at suitable intervals apart, preferably about 90. The web Si is cut away as indicated at I51, with a key-way, which is adapted to receive a bent key M2, the upper end of which is bent over and outwardly. The upright portion of this key engages the key-way l5I and .the downturned upper end of it engages any one of the recesses I58, and locks the annular rim 98 in any desired position with reference to the web 9!. l

The tube 83 of the air line has a Y extension 83-h, extending diagonally upwardly therefrom. To this extension can be attached a hose for either steam or water by which the air line may be washed out. This is shown in Figs. 5 and 10.

The tripping devices by which the opening and closing of the air valves and liquid valves is secured can be set at any desired points on the 7 frame of the machine with reference to the turcenter surrounded by a gasket mounted stationary with regard to said center, an air line passing up through said solid center, a mechanically operated valve at the lower end of said air line,

'said line being adapted to receive liquid overflow, said valve being adapted to close and hold the liquid overflow in the line while a can is being removed and is being replaced with another can, said valve being then capable of being opened to return the liquid overflow to the can, a rod by which said air valve is operated, said rod passing uprthrough said air line, a walking beam to which the upper end of said valve rod is pivotally connected and by which it is operated and means for periodically rocking said walking beam and means for flowing liquid into the can.

2. In a filling head the combination of a solid center, an air line passing up through said solid center, a mechanically operated valve at the lower end of said air line, a rod by which said valve is operated passing up through said air line, said line being adapted to receive liquid overflow, said valve being adapted to close and hold the liquid overflow in the line while the filled can is being removed and is being replaced with an empty can, said valve being then capable of being opened to return the liquid overflow to the empty can, a walking beam to which the upper end of said rod is pivotally connected and means for rocking said walking beam periodically and means for flowing liquid into the can.

3. In a filling head the combination of a head, a cushioning pad at the bottom of said head, a filling line and an air line passing through said filling head, a valve in each of said lines controlling the outlet thereof, a, valve rod attached to each valve and passing up through the air line and filling line, each valve and its valve rod being movable independently of the other valve and its rod, a walking beam attached to them)- per end of each of said rods and means for periodically rocking said walking beams.

4. The combination of a tank, a filling head connected thereto, said head having a solid center and a gasket at the bottom thereof held at a fixed distance below the bottom of the tank, said gasket surrounding the center and being stationary relative thereto, an air line passing up through said solid center and said tank, a mechanically operated valve at the lower end of said air line, a rod by which said valve is operated passing up through said air line, said air lme being adapted to receive liquid overflow from the can being filled, said valve being adapted to close and hold the liquidjoverflow in the line while the filled can is being removed and is being replaced with an empty can said valve being also capable of being opened to return the liquid overflow to the next empty can, a walking beam to which the upper end of said rod is connected and means for periodically rocking said walking said gasket surrounding'the center and being stationary relative thereto, an air line passing up through said solid center and said tank, a mechanically operated valve at the lower end of said air line, a rod by which said valve is operated passing up through said air line, said air line being adapted to receive liquid overflowlfrom V capable of being opened to return the liquid over- I flow to the next empty can, said air valve'being 76 adapted to be opened independently of and in advance of the liquid valve to permit the draining of the liquid trapped in the air line into the empty can to be filled, a walking beam to which the upper end of said rod is connected and means for periodically rocking said walking beam and means for flowing liquid into the can.

6. A can filling machine having a revolving tank, filling heads under the tank, an air and liquid valve in each head operating from the under side thereof, a valve rod connected to each valve and passing up through the head and tank, a walking beam for each valve rod to one end of which said valve rod is connected, a rod connected tothe other end of said walking beam, a spring on said rod adapted to pull said rod down and lift the valve rod, a rocking cam under each of the rods adapted to lift said rod and move said valves down.

'7. A can filling machine having a revolving tank, filling heads under the tank, an air and liquid valve in each head operating from the under side thereof, a valve rod connected to each valve and passing up through the head and tank, a walking beam for each valve rod to one end of which said valve rod is connected, a rod connected to the other end of said walking beam, a spring on said rod adapted to pull said rod down and lift the valve rod, a rocking cam under each of the rods adapted to lift said rod and move said valves down, a shaft on which said rocking cam is carried, a crank in the outer end of said shaft, means on the frame of the machine to cause said crank and shaft to rock at a predetermined point in the revolution of the tank, a ratchet and pawl adapted to hold the shaft and cam fixed in position to which it is rocked to hold the valve open.

8. A can filling machine having a revolving tank, filling heads under the tank, an air and liquid valve in each head operating from the under side thereof, a valve rod connected to each valve and passing up through the head and tank, a walking beam for each valve rod to one end of which said valve rod is connected, a rod connected to the other end of said walking beam, a spring on said rod adapted to pull said rod down and lift the valve rod, a rocking cam under each of the rods adapted to lift said rod and move said valves down, a shaft on which said rocking cam is carried, a crank in the outer end of said shaft,- means on the frame of the machine to cause said crank and shaft to rock at a predetermined point in the revolution of the tank, a ratchet and pawl adapted to hold the shaft and-cam fixed in position to which it is rocked to hold the valve open, and means for tripping said pawl at a predetermined point to release the valve and permit it to close.

9. In a can filling machine the combination of a turret having bosses thereon, a sleeve clamped stationary in each boss in an upright position, a support mounted to slide in said sleeve, a stem mounted to slide in said support and fastened thereto by a pin and slot connection, a spring interposed between the stem and support to normally hold them apart at one end, and-a platform carried on said support.

10. In a can filling machine the combination of a turret having bosses thereon, a sleeve clamped stationary in each boss in an upright position, a support mounted to slide in said sleeve, a stem mounted to slide in said support and fastened thereto by a pin and slot connection, a spring interposed between the stem and support to normally hold them apart at one end, a platform carried on said support, and a second sleeve depending from said platform and surrounding the upper part of said first named sleeve and acting as an apron therefor.

11. In a filling head the combination of a solid center, a tank to the under side of which said solid center is attached, an air line passing up through said solid center and through said tank, a Y branching ofi from said air line near the top thereof, and adapted to receive a tube thereon by which the air line can be washed out and a valve rod adapted to move up and down in the air line.

12. In a filling head, the combination of a head, a cushioning pad at the bottom of said head, said pad comprising an outer shell having an annular channel therein opening inwardly, a sponge rubber ring in said channel, a filling line, an air line passing through said head, a valve in each of said lines adapted to control said lines, an annular depending flange on said cushioning pad adapted to arrest the outward spread of the filling material.

13. In a filling head, the combination of a head, a cushioning pad at the bottom of said head, a filling line, an air line, a valve in each of said lines adapted to control said lines, and an annular depending flange on said cushioning pad adapted to arrest the-outward spread of the filling material.

JAMES LEONARD. 

